Plain Language

We are committed to following federal plain-writing guidelines for FCC documents, using clear and concise language appropriate to the subject matter and intended audiences. Share your thoughts, suggestions and examples below.

How can we make FCC documents more reader-friendly?

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I am SO TIRED OF 'LEGALIZE' TALK, I have been on the phone with ATT for most of the day, along with the public utilities commission. DO THE PEOPLE THAT MANAGE THESE ACCOUNTS EVEN KNOW WHERE ALL THE FEES ARE PAID? MOST SPECIFICALY: 'THE FEDERAL UNIVERAL SERVICE CHARGE".
The reason this all came to the 'front' was curiosity, I wanted it spelled out where each and every surcharge, tax and fee on my att bill was paid for and to whom? The company employees 'TF7PY44', 'Iris', and' Esa' XCW210402 ( who was supposedly 'upper management'. Don't have a clue, they used the 'pat' answer: "in order to provide you with the high quality service you currently we receive..blah, blah, dah." I explained to them that sitting at the bus stop on my way to work, I overheard the conversations of the apparent drug dealers, who can't speak highly enough about their "free" or $10.00 phones, as 'disposables. One had 10 of them he bragged.
Well, sirs, and madams, I refuse to pay anymore and "Universal service fee" that really is being assessed to ATT. and they merely pass the cost onto the unwary att consumer. Oh, and when asked to disclose where this fee was used, I was read the 'legalize' written in the contract, where I agreed to pay

I am SO TIRED OF 'LEGALIZE' TALK, I have been on the phone with ATT for most of the day, along with the public utilities commission. DO THE PEOPLE THAT MANAGE THESE ACCOUNTS EVEN KNOW WHERE ALL THE FEES ARE PAID? MOST SPECIFICALY: 'THE FEDERAL UNIVERAL SERVICE CHARGE".
The reason this all came to the 'front' was curiosity, I wanted it spelled out where each and every surcharge, tax and fee on my att bill was paid for and to whom? The company employees 'TF7PY44', 'Iris', and' Esa' XCW210402 ( who was supposedly 'upper management'. Don't have a clue, they…

I am a senior who is losing my vision - which is different than "color-blind". Crayon colors, neon colors, faded colors, and colored backgrounds make it nearly impossible for many of us to SEE and READ the text.

Black on white is the defacto color combination for readers; please use it. And please don't forget to use a gutter (border) on the sides of each side, too.

Aside: When I created websites I asked handicapped visitors to rate: readability, usability and colors. What I learned is browsers do not parse characters or colors equally, and monitors are different too. I cannot stress enough that the boring black on white are the best colors for readers -- if you intend to provide information.

Websites fail when visitors cannot read it and easily navigate it. .

I am a senior who is losing my vision - which is different than "color-blind". Crayon colors, neon colors, faded colors, and colored backgrounds make it nearly impossible for many of us to SEE and READ the text.

Black on white is the defacto color combination for readers; please use it. And please don't forget to use a gutter (border) on the sides of each side, too.

Aside: When I created websites I asked handicapped visitors to rate: readability, usability and colors. What I learned is browsers do…

The current website design forces those who wish to testify on-line to search for the elusive docket number. Unless you are an industry attorney, you are probably not going to go to the effort to find this docket number. Even New York Times articles don't tell citizens the docket numbers. Even organized activist groups don't tell citizens the docket numbers. Thus, the website of the FCC deters citizen engagement.. To promote citizen input, the FCC would simply rank topics by interest level and activity. Topics such as "net neutrality," "decency standards," and "monopoly threats" are evergreen topics. An fcc.org front page place for citizens to comment on the latest news related to these topics would be one way to promote citizen engagement with the agency. Supplementing the evergreen topics list, a search engine, such as Google, should list the current most active topics with the keyword, "FCC" and allow direct user comment on these active topics from the fcc.org main page. Until the web page promotes comments on the topics that are important to people and/or getting media attention, the FCC will not hear comments from the vast majority of citizens who make the effort to go to fcc.org to input their testimony.

The current website design forces those who wish to testify on-line to search for the elusive docket number. Unless you are an industry attorney, you are probably not going to go to the effort to find this docket number. Even New York Times articles don't tell citizens the docket numbers. Even organized activist groups don't tell citizens the docket numbers. Thus, the website of the FCC deters citizen engagement.. To promote citizen input, the FCC would simply rank topics by interest level and activity. Topics such as "net neutrality," "decency standards," and "monopoly threats" are evergreen topics. An fcc.org front…

Please do not allow internet neutrality to become a reality. Internet access functions quite well without government interference. The American public deserves to have internet remain as it currently exists. Thank you.

We have been working with a municipality and a contractor to prepare an FCC license application. We have had delays because of bidding schedules and were waiting for specific antenna and transmitter information from the contractor so that we could complete our application. The web site warns that FCC will delete the unfinished work after 30 days (ridiculous) and so we tried to make sure we entered the site every couple of weeks to extend our 30-day period. Well, we apparently missed a day, and the FCC deleted our work. We will have to start over again with the entry process (and the web site would not allow us to print the draft information prior to submittal). The web site and application are the worst I've seen - cumbersome and archaic - and the 30-day automatic deletion is absolutely ridiculous! At least give us an email heads-up! We filed a support request and received a "tracking number". So far, no reply, and when we try to track the request... "The tracking number you entered is not a valid number." Well guys, it's the number you assigned and the one I printed from your awful web site.

We have been working with a municipality and a contractor to prepare an FCC license application. We have had delays because of bidding schedules and were waiting for specific antenna and transmitter information from the contractor so that we could complete our application. The web site warns that FCC will delete the unfinished work after 30 days (ridiculous) and so we tried to make sure we entered the site every couple of weeks to extend our 30-day period. Well, we apparently missed a day, and the FCC deleted our work. We will have to start over again with the entry…

make it simple I am 15 and I am trying to read and figure out what the site is talking about. It is not hard If I spend the time to do it. but make a page were you can go to quickly and get a short answer that can solve the issues people have. I don't think people need to read all the background information they just want to know how to solve the issue. In general use simpler words that a broader range of people can understand.

In making FCC documents more reader-friendly increase the font size. Eliminate some of the why's and the supportive material. The column format makes it messy and more difficult to read. No other printed material uses column except the newspaper. Most of us are reading web pages, business letters are in top to bottom "regular" format.

You can say a lot and give examples and explanations in a video. It takes a lot less time away from the viewer and is more accessible to the masses. If done correctly it can capture the attention for a longer period of time than text. The FCC does not appeal to the youth. This may be the downfall of the FCC over time. A video is almost paramount actually. Also, net neutrality for all not just the paying few.

All of the forms on this site seemingly discourage actual complaints. The rest of this site seems to do the same, making thing exceedingly difficult and making the poster feel as if no actual action can be taken. I understand that some of it is pure bureaucracy, that's bound to happen; but the point remains that you (as an organization) are trying to stymie the American people's voice in this regard. I'm ashamed of my government and my nation more than ever because of things like this. Make a real effort, but don't dress up this site like it isn't some painted ***** for you to point out as an action you took to get voices heard.

All of the forms on this site seemingly discourage actual complaints. The rest of this site seems to do the same, making thing exceedingly difficult and making the poster feel as if no actual action can be taken. I understand that some of it is pure bureaucracy, that's bound to happen; but the point remains that you (as an organization) are trying to stymie the American people's voice in this regard. I'm ashamed of my government and my nation more than ever because of things like this. Make a real effort, but don't dress up this site like it isn't…

Please review idea previously entered. It is new to me but clearly expresses my frustration trying to comment. Is this your intention?

Title:Rank topics by interest and activity, to actually promote citizen commenting The current website design forces those who wish to testify on-line to search for the elusive docket number. Unless you are an industry attorney, you are probably not going to go to the effort to find this docket number. Even New York Times articles don't tell citizens the docket numbers. Even organized activist groups don't tell citizens the docket numbers. Thus, the website of the FCC deters citizen engagement.. To promote citizen input, the FCC would simply rank topics by interest level and activity. Topics such as "net neutrality," "decency standards," and "monopoly threats" are evergreen topics. An fcc.org front… more

Please review idea previously entered. It is new to me but clearly expresses my frustration trying to comment. Is this your intention?

Title:Rank topics by interest and activity, to actually promote citizen commenting The current website design forces those who wish to testify on-line to search for the elusive docket number. Unless you are an industry attorney, you are probably not going to go to the effort to find this docket number. Even New York Times articles don't tell citizens the docket numbers. Even organized activist groups don't tell citizens the docket numbers. Thus, the website of the FCC deters…

I am trying to find information on why you believe it makes any sense at all to categorize the internet as a public utility. I have written to my congressman, who sent me here. I can find no information, and can't comment without knowing the proceeding number? Do you expect us to know that? Looks like you'd rather not know what people think, since it's impossible to find what you're proposing to do, nor to comment on it.

Part 15 needs to be re-written with modern easy to undertand english terms and the use of telegraphy terms needs to be minimized or eliminated. A lot of Part 15 testing occurs outside of the US and I find that I frequently have to explain to test facilities what part 15 rules are really trying to say.

I disagree with the concept of creating 'reader friendly' language, as I fear it would allow legal exploitation of unclear or 'dumbed down' terms. However, re-formatting documentation asteticly might help dramatically with readability (i.e. switching from the column structure to a single page structure, referencing supportive material rather than describing it, etc.).